It is refreshing to see an international organization not only subjecting itself to critic

ism but also publishing the results. A report published today by the International Development Association which lends on highly concessionary terms to the poorest countries, deserves credit on both counts. But the reasons for producing this sizeable document say as much about the crisis facing aid agencies as they do about the recipients of aid.

In the nature of things the document is self-justificatory. It would be curious indeed for a group of international civil servants enjoying substantial tax-free salaries to recommend their own disbandment.The report concludes that without IDA, the situation in the world's poorest countries "would have been even worse, and the needs today even greater".

Leaving aside whether one can say what would have happened otherwise, there is no doubt that in the 22 years since its inception IDA has been diligent. It has committed $27,000m to 1,302 projects in 78 countries. This year disbursements will be about $2,100m, despite the argument over IDA’s funding which has left it with less money than expected.

All of these considerable sums have gone to the poorest countries on generous terms. No country with a per capita income of more than $730 is eligible for IDA assistance, and in 1980 no less than 80 percent of net disbursements were to countries with per capita incomes of only $410. When incomes are so desperately low, it is not surprising that the terms allow repayment over 50 years without interest.

Nevertheless, as IDA candidly admits, measuring the effectiveness of such aid is difficult. It insists that projects must pay for themselves. In effect, the rate of return must provide the borrowing government with revenue to meet its obligations or else the loan becomes a subsidy.

The word "counts" (line 4) in this passage refers to______

A．the considerable sums which have gone to the poorest countries

B．IDA submitting itself to an evaluation and making the results known

C．the reasons for producing the sizeable document

D．the generous terms that IDA has offered